Deal Town manager Steve King makes them big underdogs for derby against Ramsgate; Hoops visit Broadbridge Heath this weekend after early FA Cup exit

Steve King makes Deal big underdogs for their Bank Holiday clash against Ramsgate.

King’s Hoops will play the first of plenty of Isthmian South East derbies this season at the Charles Sports Ground as they face the Rams - last term’s play-off semi-finalists - on Monday.

“We have got nothing to lose in the Ramsgate game,” said Deal boss King on a match which will see Jack Paxman, Billy Munday, Tom Chapman, Ashley Miller, Rory Smith and Aaron Millbank face their former club.

“They will be heavy favourites for that. They have been very good for the last two or three seasons and Ben (Smith, Ramsgate’s manager) has managed to get most of that squad back together again now. They have signed some good players.

“I know they struggled in pre-season a bit - but they won their first league game and won comfortably against another Step 4 side at the weekend.

“So, we’ll go into Monday as underdogs. We’re just looking forward to the derby and giving it our all.”

The meeting will see King and Smith face one another in a competitive clash for the first time since prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Smith was at Canterbury City when they ground-shared at Deal - and there’s a close working relationship between them, both teachers.

King recalled: “The last time we faced each other would have been when they (Canterbury City) had their FA Vase run. Ben and I have known each other for a long time.

“We’re the same age and Canterbury were ground-sharing at Deal for a couple of seasons when he was there. We have had plenty of good battles but we have helped each other out at times, as well.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him on Monday and coming up against him. I sort of know how his side likes to play and he knows how we like to play.

“Both